Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

UK Ocean Leadership

Mr Andrew Mitchell: My Noble Friend the Minister of State for Climate, Environment and Energy (Lord Benyon) has today made the following statement:This statement provides an update on UK leadership and engagement on current international ocean issues.The 2021 Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy and its 2023 Refresh set out the UK’s vision that by 2030 the ocean will be effectively governed, clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse, linking resilient and prosperous coastal communities around the world, and supporting sustainable economic growth for the UK, the Overseas Territories and the Crown Dependencies. Fundamental to this is an absolute commitment to upholding the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in all its dimensions, as an essential enabler of global prosperity, security and a healthy planet.The UK played a significant and proactive role in negotiating the landmark Agreement under UNCLOS on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, known as the BBNJ Agreement. The UK was one of the first to sign the Agreement on 20 September 2023 and is keen to see it enter into force as quickly as possible. 60 States or regional economic integration organisations must become party to the Agreement before it enters into force. To date the Agreement has gained 88 signatures and two ratifications.The Agreement was laid before Parliament for scrutiny on 16 October 2023. Before the UK can ratify international agreements, legislation needs to be in place to ensure that new obligations can be complied with.Work is continuing at pace to prepare UK legislation and the aim is to be able to implement and ratify in time for the UN Ocean Conference in June 2025 - an ambitious target date shared by other likeminded countries. The UK intends to play an active part in the first Conference of the Parties that will meet within the first year after the Agreement enters into force, and in the Preparatory Commission to be established by the United Nations to prepare for that Conference. The planned timeline for UK legislation to enable ratification will ensure that the UK remains at the forefront of states working to effectively protect the ocean.The provisions in the Agreement on Marine Genetic Resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits require a clear legislative framework, including substantive provisions in primary legislation. They create new obligations for UK business – in particular the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, agricultural-technology, cosmetic and chemical sectors - and science and research, and thorough engagement with key stakeholders is underway to help to ensure that implementation is effective and avoids any unintended consequences.The UK will continue to be proactive at the international level, in supporting other, particularly developing countries, with their implementation and ratification plans. A project has recently been agreed with the Commonwealth Secretariat to support smaller member countries with their implementation work. The UK is also launching work to develop a shortlist of potential Area Based Management Tools that could be proposed once the Agreement is in force.More broadly, the UK is also fully engaged in negotiations to discuss the development of deep sea mining exploitation regulations, currently taking place at the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in Kingston, Jamaica from 18-29 March. On 30 October 2023, the UK announced that it supports a moratorium on the granting of exploitation licences for deep sea mining projects by the ISA and has been driving the need for strong enforceable environmental regulations, standards and guidelines to be developed by the ISA and put in place before any mining commences.As a founding member of the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution, the UK is committed to achieving an ambitious treaty by the end of 2024, with the aim of ending plastic pollution by 2040, including by restraining and reducing plastic production and consumption to sustainable levels, promoting a circular economy for plastic and to manage plastic waste in an environmentally sound and safe manner.The UK Overseas Territories are home to around 90% of the UK’s biodiversity and host a huge range of unique and endangered species, some of which are found nowhere else on earth. The UK-funded Blue Belt Programme – the largest of its kind in the world - protects 4.4 million square kilometres of ocean around the Overseas Territories, underpinning the UK’s commitment to protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030. This flagship programme has been central to the UK Government’s ambition of leading action to tackle the serious global problems of overfishing, species extinction and climate change.The UK continues to Chair the Global Ocean Alliance of 77 countries and is ocean champion on the International Steering Committee of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature & People. Through these positions we are supporting implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework in the ocean, in particular the target to effectively conserve and manage at least 30% of the ocean by 2030. The UK is already delivering on this target within its own waters. 38% of UK waters are included in a comprehensive network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and within the UK Overseas Territories, over 60% of waters are protected and sustainably managed within the Blue Belt.The UK will continue to play a leading role in the many organisations and initiatives that work to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean and in continuing to protect and promote the Blue Belt.

Department for Work and Pensions

Pensions Dashboard Update

Paul Maynard: The success of automatic enrolment has led to record numbers of people saving for retirement. Pensions dashboards will allow individuals to view information about their pensions, including their State Pension, for free, in one place online. This will help individuals’ awareness and understanding of their pension information and estimated income in retirement, building a greater sense of individual control and ownership.Since the reset was initiated last year, the Pensions Dashboards Programme has made significant progress building and testing the system which will enable pensions dashboards to work. Subject to satisfactory testing, the programme plans to begin the process of connecting the organisations building a direct connection, including DWP State Pension, from August 2024. Connection testing will then continue to ensure readiness to support wider industry connection from early 2025.The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions will today publish guidance setting out a staged timetable for connection. This will help smooth the process of connecting the approximately 3,000 pension schemes and providers in scope by the connection deadline of 31 October 2026. The timetable prioritises connection of the largest pension schemes and providers, so that crucial user testing can quickly take place at scale, with the first cohort expected to have completed connection by the end of April 2025. Whilst the timetable is not mandatory, it is a legal requirement that trustees or managers of occupational pension schemes and providers of personal and stakeholder pensions have regard to this guidance.The Government is absolutely committed to delivering pensions dashboards safely and securely to the public at the earliest opportunity. The publication of the connection timetable marks a significant milestone towards launching pensions dashboards, and takes us closer to introducing a service that has the potential to transform how individuals plan for retirement.

Department for Transport

Rail Update

Mr Mark Harper: On 4 October 2023 the Government announced Network North - a new, £36 billion plan to improve our country’s transport. In addition to this, we confirmed £12bn of investment to enable Northern Powerhouse Rail to proceed in line with previous plans to better connect Liverpool and Manchester. As promised in the Network North announcement, the Rail Minister and I have engaged extensively with local leaders to ensure that this plan was right for them and to understand whether they wished to suggest alternative ways to achieve the objectives with that funding.We have heard from these stakeholders in favour of continuing to serve Warrington Bank Quay and Manchester Airport and using broadly the current route towards Manchester as part of our Northern Powerhouse Rail plans. There is also interest from local leaders in exploring further options for station design at Manchester Piccadilly and for routings into Liverpool including station options. Government remains open to considering these issues, subject, as usual, to affordability within the funding envelope, standard business case approvals, and demonstrating value for taxpayers’ money. I look forward to continuing discussions on these points.Recognising the consensus reached, I am today confirming that this will represent the basis for the next stage of development. As with any major scheme, delivery will be subject to securing consents and the approval of future business cases. Further, while the consensus reached will form the primary option that we work from, Government will continue to assess alternatives which meet the objectives of NPR, in line with standard requirements for business case approvals. Any scheme must be affordable and demonstrate value for money for the taxpayer, while seeking to support the rail capacity needs of central Manchester and deliver faster journey times and better connectivity across the Pennines.On this basis, I will be continuing to promote the High Speed Rail (Crewe-Manchester) Bill as the fastest possible means of consenting the first part of that route into Manchester. Subject to the will of the House, the Government will seek to adapt the Bill to deliver Northern Powerhouse Rail only, removing scope south of the Parish of Millington and Rostherne, which was included only for HS2. The adaptation of the Bill from HS2 to NPR and removal of HS2 scope from the Bill would prompt a further environmental assessment to be produced which would include revised construction impacts with a view to reducing impacts where possible.In line with these plans HS2 Phase 2b safeguarding will be amended by summer 2024, to allow for any safeguarding needed for Northern Powerhouse Rail.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Community Ownership Fund Round 3 Window 3 Outcome

Jacob Young: I am delighted to announce the outcome of Round 3 Window 3 of the £150 million Community Ownership Fund, which will see over £33.5 million awarded to 83 projects across the United Kingdom. This additional funding takes our funding total to around £103.1 million for 333 projects.This investment will ensure that important parts of our social fabric, such as pubs, sports clubs, theatres, and post office buildings, can continue to play a central role in towns and villages across the UK.The Community Ownership Fund is helping to reduce geographical disparities across the United Kingdom. To this end, the funding provided in Round 3 Window 3 will see over £3.8 million awarded to projects in Scotland, over £3.1 million to Wales and over £2.8 million to Northern Ireland. This, so far, brings the total funding awarded across Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland to over £32.1 million collectively, with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland having exceeded their minimum allocation across the duration of the Fund.The funding provided in Round 3 Window 3 will also see over £23.6 million awarded to projects in England. This brings the total funding awarded across English regions to over £70.9 million collectively.The Community Fund is already supporting 250 projects across the UK such as Keighley & Worth Valley Railway’s historic railway bridge, in Bradford, England; the Vale of Aeron pub, a favourite haunt of the poet Dylan Thomas in Ceredigion, Wales; the King’s Theatre in Edinburgh, one of Scotland’s most historic and significant theatres; and Glens Digital Hub in Causeway Coast and Glens, Northern Ireland, which has been transformed into a vibrant community digital hub. These projects are making a genuine difference to their communities.With the additional investment awarded in this bidding window, I am delighted to be supporting many more small but mighty local assets across the United Kingdom, levelling up the places we love and cherish.Round 4 will be the final round of the Community Ownership Fund. Recognising that there is limited funding available yet to be allocated to meet the high demand we have experienced, we will seek to hold two final bidding windows to allocate this funding. Round 4 Window 1 will open today (25 March 2024) and close on 10 April 2024. Voluntary and community organisations, and parish, town and community councils can apply for up to £2 million in capital funding, to rescue treasured local institutions.

Home Office

Home Office Update

James Cleverly: On 29 February 2024, a report on Part 1 of the independent Angiolini Inquiry was published. The Inquiry was established following the horrific murder of Sarah Everard in March 2021 by then-serving Metropolitan Police Service officer Wayne Couzens. On the same day, I gave a statement to the House to acknowledge the Inquiry’s findings. Part 1 examined the previous career and conduct of Couzens and found a number of red flags and missed opportunities. Based on these findings, the Chair made a total of 16 recommendations, summarily to improve the policing response to sexual offences, such as indecent exposure, to strengthen police recruitment and vetting practices, and to address toxic police cultures. Today I can confirm acceptance of all three of the recommendations made to the Government, which the Home Office will now work to deliver at pace. These recommendations are that the Home Office, in collaboration with partners, should conduct a fundamental review of the way masturbatory indecent exposure is treated within the criminal justice system; commission research to establish if there is an evidence-based link between masturbatory indecent exposure and subsequent offending; and launch a campaign to raise awareness that indecent exposure and sending unsolicited photographs of genitals amounts to criminality and boost victims’ confidence to report such crimes. Further recommendations on police vetting, recruitment and culture were made directly to police forces, the National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing, who have also today accepted all recommendations made to policing. I will work closely with policing to ensure that they drive this work forward promptly. Tackling violence against women and girls is one of my top priorities. I am confident that our strong partnership and shared commitment with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing will lead to concerted, swift action. I will provide a further update to Parliament on progress made in implementing the recommendations before Summer recess. I am grateful to Lady Elish and her team for their crucial and continued work, which will ensure that policing continues to make improvements necessary to rebuild the confidence of everyone they serve. I await the Inquiry’s further findings from Part 2, which is examining broader national issues such as vetting, recruitment and culture, as well as the safety of women in public spaces.

Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures (1 December 2023 to 29 February 2024)

Tom Tugendhat: Section 19(1) of the Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures (TPIM) Act 2011 (the Act) requires the Secretary of State to report to Parliament as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of every relevant three-month period on the exercise of their TPIM powers under the Act during that period. The level of information provided will always be subject to slight variations based on operational advice.  TPIM notices in force (as of 29 February 2024)2Number of new TPIM notices served (during this period)1TPIM notices in respect of British citizens (as of 29 February 2024)1TPIM notices extended (during the reporting period)0TPIM notices revoked (during the reporting period)0TPIM notices expired (during reporting period)0TPIM notices revived (during the reporting period)0Variations made to measures specified in TPIM notices (during the reporting period)1Applications to vary measures specified in TPIM notices refused (during the reporting period)1The number of subjects relocated under TPIM legislation (during this the reporting period)2  The TPIM Review Group (TRG) keeps every TPIM notice under regular and formal review. TRG meetings were convened on 8th and 13th February 2024.

Ministry of Defence

Defence Nuclear Update

Grant Shapps: I am today laying before the House the Defence Nuclear Enterprise Command Paper – “Delivering the UK’s Nuclear Deterrent: A National Endeavour”. The Command Paper establishes the UK’s nuclear programme as a critical ‘National Endeavour’ which is vital for our long-term security and prosperity. It details for the first time the full breadth of activity required to sustain and modernise the infrastructure and activities that deliver the UK’s continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent – a cornerstone of national and global security for more than 55 years. The Command Paper underlines the importance of our partnerships with the communities, businesses and international allies that underpin the deterrent and protect our way of life. It articulates how, in response to the evolving security environment, we will deliver the capabilities and programmes necessary to maintain and sustain our independent nuclear deterrent. It does not represent a change in long-standing nuclear doctrine or our ongoing commitment to our disarmament and Non-Proliferation Treaty obligations. To deliver the required skilled workforce needed to meet our requirement the Civil and Defence Nuclear Sectors will invest at least £763 million in skills, jobs and education and will see 40,000 additional jobs created by 2030. The government and industry have come together to launch a Nuclear Skills Plan to create more than 5,000 new apprentices, and double the number of graduates over the next 4 years. This plan will also create more than 400 specialist PhDs over the same period. This collaborative approach will be enshrined in a Nuclear Skills Charter between government and industry.In parallel, we are announcing a ‘Plan for Barrow’, a new partnership between national and local government, BAE Systems and the local community that will oversee investment and development in Barrow-in-Furness, the home of submarine building in the UK for the past hundred years. This aims to ensure that it is the kind of attractive place to live and work that will sustain the skilled workforce required in the decades to come. The initial commitment will be for a Barrow Transformation Fund, a ten-year endowment-style funding settlement of £20 million a year over the next decade providing the multi-year certainty and stability needed to support and regenerate the town. This fund will be administered through DLUHC, working with the new Barrow Delivery Board and other government departments to deliver it. DLUHC will make a further announcement on the appointment of the Barrow Delivery Board Chair in due course.

Department of Health and Social Care

Covid-19 Update

Maria Caulfield: On 21 February 2022, the Government published the guidance, COVID-19 Response: Living with COVID-19, which set out a plan to live with COVID-19, while protecting people at higher risk of serious illness. In March 2023, the Government announced further changes towards managing COVID-19 like other respiratory illnesses. New changes from 1 April 2024 are the next stage in delivering this approach.The latest changes are an important milestone in our journey to living with COVID-19. After several years of dedicated resources and focus, COVID-19 is now recognised as an established and ongoing health issue in the UK and the approach to managing it will now be even further aligned with other established respiratory pathogens. Protecting people at higher risk remains the Government’s priority.Vaccines for those at higher risk of serious outcomes from COVID-19 remain central to the Government’s approach. Last autumn’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign saw over 70% of all people aged over 65 years living in England receive a COVID-19 booster. In care homes, over 80% of residents received a booster, providing vital protection over the winter months. Today, due to a combination of immunity acquired from natural infection or vaccination, COVID-19 is now a relatively mild disease for the vast majority of people.This spring, a COVID-19 vaccine will again be offered to those most at risk of serious illness, in line with advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. The NHS will also offer more people access to COVID-19 treatments, expanding the eligible cohort from the existing 3.9 million people to an additional 1.4 million people at highest risk of severe illness.The continued effectiveness of vaccines and treatments to protect people at high risk means that we can transition to an approach where COVID-19 is managed in line with other respiratory illnesses, such as flu. From 1 April 2024, changes will be made to COVID-19 testing to align with other respiratory infectious diseases. Testing from 1 April 2024While the virus causing COVID-19 continues to evolve, new variants have not required a return to large-scale public testing. Given the high levels of vaccination among groups at higher risk, wider access to treatments and reduced impact of outbreaks, the Government is now able to remove some of the highly targeted testing which remains in place from the height of the pandemic.From 1 April 2024, routine provision of free COVID-19 Lateral Flow Device (LFD) tests for the management of outbreaks in higher risk settings will come to an end in England. However, free testing to determine the cause of an acute respiratory infection outbreak, where deemed appropriate by a local UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Health Protection Team, in higher risk settings will remain to test for a wide range of respiratory viruses.Routine asymptomatic COVID-19 LFD testing on discharge from hospital into care or hospice settings will also end to align with the approach for other respiratory illnesses, though NHS Trusts will have local discretion to re-introduce this or other forms of testing as clinically appropriate following risk assessment, involving Local Authority Public Health Teams, UKHSA Health Protection Teams and care providers as necessary in decision making.Acute health providers should have trusted processes in place with local care home and hospice providers to facilitate safe discharges, as set out in the hospital discharge and community support guidance. Together with the care home or hospice, hospitals should assess the risk in the period before planned discharge, seeking advice on proposed changes to testing arrangements from Local Authority public Health Teams or UKHSA Health Protection Teams if needed.Care providers and hospices will also continue to have the ability to discuss and raise any concerns about discharge arrangements through existing local mechanisms. Where a care provider or hospice is providing services commissioned by a local authority or the NHS and has concerns about a planned discharge that cannot be resolved with the acute hospital provider, this includes the ability to contact the relevant commissioner.Limited testing, including symptomatic testing of staff working on inpatient wards focussed on treating profoundly immunocompromised individuals, will continue in line with locally derived protocols to protect those most at risk. Symptomatic testing of patient-facing hospice staff who work closely with people who are at high risk from severe outcomes if suffering from COVID-19 will also continue as outlined in guidance, in line with similar NHS settings.The cohort of people eligible for COVID-19 treatments can continue to access free COVID-19 LFDs from their local pharmacy. These people, who are at highest risk of becoming seriously ill, are encouraged to test to gain timely access to treatments. A full list of those who are eligible, and information on how to access tests, is available on the NHS website.Guidance on a range of infection prevention and control measures in Adult Social Care has now been combined with acute respiratory infection guidance and has been updated to reflect these changes. This guidance, as well as guidance for hospices and other non-clinical settings, has been updated to reflect the latest evidence and expert consensus. It is technical guidance to support settings in operationalising the changes to the services they are directly responsible for from 1 April 2024.Guidance published on 1 April 2022 for individuals in the community with symptoms of COVID-19 or respiratory illness continues to set out the actions we can all take to help reduce the risk of catching COVID-19 and passing it on to others. The future approach to pandemic preparedness The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the public health and economic risks posed by pandemics. The Government is continuing to work closely with partners to reduce the impact of a future pandemic. Together, UKHSA and the Department of Health and Social Care are developing plans to prevent and/or respond efficiently and effectively in the event of a pandemic.These plans will build on learning from COVID-19, and the findings of the COVID-19 Inquiry, once published. The exact nature of a future pandemic may vary, and so preparedness is considering all modes of transmission and tackling ‘Disease X’ in readiness for unknown future threats.The Government has already taken steps to prepare and develop capacity to respond, including through the Moderna-UK Strategic Partnership and the Vaccines Development and Evaluation Centre. Through UKHSA, we retain strong surveillance systems, world-leading genomic sequencing capabilities, and stronger baseline data and analysis functions that will help detect and characterise pandemic threats.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Extension of deadline for representations on anticipated acquisition of Telegraph Media Group Limited

Lucy Frazer: On 19 March, I confirmed to Parliament that, on the basis of assessments by the Competition and Markets Authority and by Ofcom, I am minded to refer the anticipated acquisition of Telegraph Media Group Ltd (TMG) by RB Investco Ltd to a Phase 2 investigation on the grounds of the need for accurate presentation of news and free expression of opinion in newspapers.I set a deadline of 9am on Monday 25 March 2024 to allow the parties the opportunity to make representations to me before I reach a final decision.Further to a request from one of the Parties, I have confirmed an extension to that deadline, which will now be 9am on Tuesday 2 April 2024.